Bill Kenwright: UK theatres lit blue in tribute to impresario

Blackpool Grand and Liverpool Empire were two of the many theatres to pay tribute

Theatres across the UK have been bathed in blue light as a tribute to the late impresario Bill Kenwright.

The Liverpool-born impresario, whose death was announced on Tuesday, was one of the country's leading theatre producers as well as a former actor.

The colour reflected his other great passion, Everton, the football club he was chairman of for almost 25 years.

Theatres in his home city were joined by others in Darlington, London, Blackpool, Brighton and Sheffield.

Kenwright's hit shows included productions of Blood Brothers

Following his death at the age of 78, Sir Ian McKellen led tributes from actors and the theatre industry to the "unique" Kenwright, saying: "Our business will be dimmer now he has gone."

Kenwright found fame in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street in the 1960s, before achieving success producing plays and musicals.

His hit shows included productions of Willy Russell's Blood Brothers and Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

London's Apollo Victoria Theatre turned the green lights it usually sports for Wicked blue

Theatre Royal Brighton included a tribute to Kenwrigh inside and outside the building

Announcing the blue-light tribute, a spokesman for the Liverpool Empire said the move was to mark Kenwright's passing and to pay "tribute to his contribution to theatre, particularly here in our city".

Darlington Hippodrome said his "contribution to the theatre industry can't be overstated", while Theatre Royal Brighton added that the loss was "keenly felt".

The Crucible and the Lyceum in Sheffield were both bathed in blue light

Darlington Hippodrome was lit blue to "honour the memory" of Kenwright

Worthing's Connaught Theatre said Kenwright had brought "many special productions" to the town

Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot also turned blue to remember Kenwright